We got three top answers when we took a very brief and unscientific survey of people we knew about how they picked their cooking utensils. They were from a trusted brand. They were on sale. The colors matched other things in the kitchen. Those seem like pretty good answers when buying everyday cooking utensils! One cooking utensil set seems like it should be the same as another. If you want to buy a set to match the color of your toaster oven, that seems like a good choice.
However, a new study says the choice matters. Black plastic kitchen utensils may be dangerous. The study found that 85 percent of spatulas and other cooking utensils, as well as takeout containers, contain recycled plastic with fireproof chemicals linked to cancer, fertility problems and developmental delays.
Study author Megan Liu, science and policy manager at the campaign group Toxic-Free Future, said, “These cancer-causing chemicals shouldn’t be used to begin with, but with recycling, they are entering our environment and our homes in more ways than one. The high levels we found are concerning.”
The chemicals are endocrine disruptors. Once in the body, they mess with hormonal regulation. That can lead to many problems, including mutations that can become cancerous. While the chemicals are never safe, having them in products that come in contact with food is particularly distressing.
One of the chemicals, DecaBDE, was banned in 2021. After being linked to cancer, endocrine and thyroid issues, children’s health problems and immune system toxicity, it was made illegal. Despite that, it was found in 70 percent of the items tested in the study.
The study only looked at black plastic. It’s unknown if other colored plastic utensils have the utensils. It could be that sticking to wooden and metal options is safer. However, as the chemicals appear to have gotten into the mix because of plastic from recycled electronic casings, they may only be present in black plastic. However, avoiding plastic is your best option if you want to be safe.
“Replace your plastic kitchen utensils with stainless steel options or choose plastic free items to help reduce your overall exposure to harmful additives and plastic,” Ms. Liu said. “Some manufacturers also have strong policies about removing retardants from their products, so you can also be a careful shopper.”
Even if you try to remove black plastic from your home, it may find its way back in! Black plastic takeout containers contained the harmful chemicals. The researchers recommended transferring the food into glass containers when you get home and eating your meal off a plate. They also strongly discouraged microwaving plastic as it could leach chemicals into food.
It is impossible to eliminate risk in your life. None of us live in a bubble. However, you can take steps to make your kitchen safer, and it starts with knowing what you’re cooking with!
